Skanky LDS behaviour...

[Om3ga*wolf_1362...]

i'm glad to hear that,
see i also see it has, if the guy's mugging me off with prices, how do i know he won't mug me off with my training... i.e just go for a quick turn-over...
i may be being abit thin skinned on this, but the whole dive scence in these parts just seems off key...

 

[Standingbear56]

We dont play the MARK UP - MARK DOWN game to make you feel as if you are getting a GOOD deal. You pay our LOW PRICE to start with. Then on top of that we offer some discounts.

While that is certainly the ideal way of doing business (and you have no argument from me on that point), unfortunately in reality, it doesn't always seem to hold up. For instance, define low price. A Quality Dive Center's LOW PRICE for the Nuclear Dive Widget is $100.00. (standard retail is $110) Since it's the Dive Center's CEO's birthday, you also offer an additional 10% discount. However quality Dive Center # 2 sees your advertisement and offer's the exact same Nuclear Dive Widget for $89.95. Now, with the possible exception of your loyal customers, you could stand to loose a lot of business to what is in reality a .05 difference in price. Sounds crazy, but it is all too true. Hence having a Best Price Guarantee. This not only lets the customer get the best price for their buck (and in numerous cases that .05 can make all the difference) it also helps us be on top of what is happening with the market. With the speed of internet best price search engines, if you aren't on top of things, you loose. It's not a simple case of playing MARK UP - MARK DOWN, it's a case of staying on top of 21st century shopping practices and making/keeping customers, many of whom with all other things being equal will generally go with the best price. Best price search engines may not even list your center if you are more that a few bucks different from the low price holder. So if someone comes in with a price lower than your Low PRICE+ discount, what then? You can either adjust your LOW PRICE + DISCOUNT to match, or unless they are one of your real loyal customers, or someone who truly appreciates his/her LDS, you will probably loose the sale, all other things being equal. So if you do match prices when required, wouldn't that also make you a player in the MARK UP - MARK DOWN game?
Safe Selling in an Active Retail World
George
PADI MSDT